Morpheus is the God of Dreams – and after more than four years of
development Baader Planetarium presents the eyepiece of their dreams:
The MORPHEUS® 76° WIDE-FIELD OKULARS.

Even if a certain movie-classic hints otherwise – the Morpheus®
are absolutely real. Featuring a true 76° field of view, they immerse
you in the Universe without having to roll your eyes. The big eye relief
is perfect for observing with glasses and the comfortable viewing-
behavior leads to a “Spacewalk-feeling” that normally is provided only
by eyepieces with a much larger and inaccessible apparent field of view.
Meanwhile the image in no way appears distorted or like viewing through
a fishbowl. Center contrast and brilliance match those of the finest
planetary eyepieces – while even with the fastest telescope optics you
will enjoy tack sharp stars close to the outer edge of the field.

Baader has put as much effort into the workmanship as into the
optical design. Phantom Coating® Group, rare-earth glasses,
sealed watertight housings and blackened lens edges are a given.
Practical design is the prime goal: i.e. minimum metal to keep weight at
bay, optimized for bino-viewing, photo- video thread – and the all-new
1¼" and 2" “safety-kerfs” to guard against slipping (no undercut). In
the night you will love the quick draw eyepiece holster and the
photo-luminescent engraving.

All Morpheus® Highlights in an Overview

Optical Features

Full Field Sharpness:
The sharp flat 76° field is unsurpassed by any other modern wide field
eyepiece. On-axis sharpness and contrast rivals our best planetary
eyepieces, while delivering nearly equivalent performance over the
full field. Stars remain diamond pinpoints as you move away from
center, and the field remains flat and in focus, even in short focus
telescopes.

Long Eye Relief:
Morpheus pushes the envelope of comfortable wide field viewing further
than ever before, delivering close to 20mm of eye relief along with
best-in-class optical performance. Eyeglass wearers can comfortably
take in the full field, and users of Binoviewers will find that
Morpheus make the ultimate eyepieces for viewing with two eyes.

Low Distortion:
The Morpheus optical design delivers exceedingly low distortion
(angular magnification distortion). Planets and lunar features retain
their shapes as they transit the field and the true field sizes are
close to theoretical. Many companies exaggerate at this point and
deliberately use off axis distortion magnification as a means to
advertize blown "apparent" field sizes . You will be able to compare
this given field size of 76° and find it to be the true value
(apparent view angle as seen by the observer's eye).

Immersive Views:
As avid observers ourselves, we have studied the behaviors of most
commonly available wide field eyepieces and listened to other
observers comments on what eyepieces give the most palpable and
engaging wide field viewing experience. What we found is that the
subjective ‘spacewalk’ feeling is not just a function of field of
view. Interestingly, some wide-field eyepieces with fields of 82
degrees failed to deliver the same viewing experience as others with
similar fields, or even some with smaller fields. We found two
additional primary factors played into the equation – Eye Relief (and
the related large eye lens size) and Ease of Viewing (a combination of
long eye relief and control of pupil aberrations). We also found that
fields much below 74 degrees tended to have a reduced effect. So, with
this information in hand, we set out to design a new eyepiece with a
field of view greater than 74° that met all of the other optical
parameters necessary to deliver a truly "immersive" viewing experience
where the eyepiece essentially disappears. The result is Morpheus®.

Phantom Coating® Group:
Pioneered in the Hyperion lineup, the Phantom Group Multi-coatings
have been further optimized for use in the Morpheus and index-matched
to each of the different glasses.

Optimized Internal Baffling:
As with all Baader Planetarium eyepieces, the internal mechanicals
have been fully ray-traced and baffled to eliminate the effects of
stray-light.

Mechanical Features

Optimized for Binoviewing:
Every last bit of space has been squeezed out of the main body to
minimize its size, giving maximum nose clearance for binoviewing.

Weight reduction:
Every effort has been made to eliminate unnecessary weight -
especially in view of effective binoviewing. The weight of all
Morpheus-eyepieces essentially are the lenses inside plus the best
protection and water resistance we can supply.

Foldable Eyecups:
The Morpheus include two soft rubber dual-position foldable eyeguards
(see images below). These innovative new eyeguards have been developed
to provide the optimal comfort and eye spacing for most users and eye
glass wearers. The included special winged version provides the
ultimate comfort and exclusion of stray light necessary for
binoviewing with eyeglasses.

Photo-Video Adaptation:
Like their Hyperion siblings, all Morpheus eyepieces make superb imaging
projection optics. Each Morpheus includes a hidden M43 photo-video eye
lens thread that permits use of our extensive range of Hyperion Digital
T-Rings. These rings permit direct-thread attachment of practically any
imaging device for the ultimate in rigidity and close-coupling for
minimal vignetting.

The first test reports about the "Morpheus" eyepieces appearing on the
web are all very positive. US eyepiece specialist William A. Paolini,
author of the book "Choosing and Using Astronomical Eyepieces"
(Springer, ISBN 978-1-4614-7723-5) published the most detailed test
report on Cloudy nights. Please clickon the link below to read
this report.

NEW
Click on the link for a Review of the Morpheus, by
Bill Paolini (1MB pdf)

NEW
Click on the link for a complete table of Morpheus
Eyepiece Specifications

Even before the disappearance of the famed Baader Genuine
Orthoscopics, Baader Planetarium sought to develop a true Planetary eyepiece
set that was accessible for any amateur - without breaking their
bank. Introducing the new Baader Planetarium Classic Eyepieces and
Q-Turret Eyepiece sets.

Foregoing fancy (and costly) cosmetics, the new Classic
Eyepieces deliver where it counts - performance. Their sharpness and
contrast rival other 'planetary' eyepieces costing much more. To
achieve this performance and value, Baader drew upon their extensive
in-house knowledge and experience, combined with optical designs and
processes leveraged from Zeiss.

Features of the new Classic Eyepieces:

Optical design and manufacturing specs based on the highly
regarded Zeiss Jena .965 orthoscopics (not any Japanese or Chinese makes).

Excellent Ergonomics: The innovative recessed volcano
top provides clearance for eyelashes and enables a comfortably located
eyepoint without the stray light problems of a full volcano top.

Integrated winged folding rubber eyecup: Eliminates
distracting stray side-light, enabling full concentration on the object, as
well as providing a thermally insulating and soft non-scratching top surface
(ie, for eyeglass wearers). Also outstanding for BinoViewing.
May be folded down or removed, if needed .

NOTE: The 32mm Classic Plossl also
includes a slip-on eyeguard extension tube to permit positioning the
eyeguard farther back, for use with the barlow lens, or if the user
prefers a shorter eye relief.

2.25X Q-Barlow (HT
Multicoatings)

The Classic Q-Barlow has been optically matched to the
Classic Eyepieces, and its 2.25X magnification gives a well spaced set
of focal lengths. It's removable lens cell can also be unthreaded
from the 1.25" barrel, and directly threaded onto any of the eyepieces
to give 1.3X, further filling in the choice of focal lengths.
Alternatively, it can be directly threaded onto the 1.25" barrel of the
Q-Turret to give 2.25X with all 4 eyepieces.

Q-Turret

The perfect complement to the
Classic Eyepieces. Baader's new 4 position Q-Turret enables rapid
magnification change with a twist of the turret. The concave body
shape results in a very short optical path length (38mm), enabling the
turret to be used even in many Newtonians. The 1.25" OD barrel is
threaded for 1.25" astro-filters, as well as the 2.25X Q-Barlow.

Also the perfect tool for imagers. The Q-Turret
enables rapid, and parfocal, changing between an eyepiece and CCD
cameras / webcams.

6mm Classic Ortho

10mm Classic Ortho

18mm Classic Ortho

32mm Classic Plossl

Q-Barlow

Q-Turret

NEW
Click on the link for a Review of the Classic Q-set
by Astronomy Technology Today(2MB pdf)

More info on the Classics can be found here, at Hernando Bautista's
informative

Packaged together in a fitted foam lined decorative Astro-Box, the 4
Classic Eyepieces, Q-Barlow, and Q-Turret form a complete set of high
quality eyepieces that deliver an extensive range of instantly
accessible focal lengths for the astronomical enthusiast (2.7mm,
4.6mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 14mm, 18mm, 32mm).

Sky and
Telescope's Hot Astronomy Product for 2008! The Baader Planetarium
Hyperion 68° Modular Eyepieces offer
world-class performance and unique photo-visual features, at an unheard
of price. No longer do amateurs need to spend more on their
eyepieces than their primary instrument, in order to get true high-end
performance in a wide-field eyepiece. Not just a different branded
version of their highly regarded cousins, the Hyperions have been
totally redesigned to deliver better transmission, contrast, and useful
new features. Baader Planetarium has worked hard to give the
Hyperions the world's finest optical coatings, superb mechanics, and their unique
multifunctional design.

As a visual eyepiece, we have found
the Hyperions deliver superb sharpness and color fidelity across their
68° wide, flat-field, even in fast
telescopes. In our
own comparisons to our personal favorites, the Pentax XL, the Hyperions
matched the Pentax in every regard, and at just over 1/3 the
price! From their superb on-axis and off-axis sharpness, to their
pitch-black high contrast field, the Hyperions really work.
Viewing through a Hyperion is notably comfortable and relaxing, due to
their forgiving eye-position, 20mm of eye-relief, extra-large
eyelens, and an optical
design that is free of annoying 'kidney-beaning' and blackouts.

Some highlights of the Hyperion;

Consisting of 8 elements in 5 groups
(3.5mm - 21mm),
the Hyperion optical design delivers outstanding sharpness and color
correction over a 68° wide
apparent field (65° for the 21mm). The Hyperion optical design has been chosen to
deliver a exceptionally comfortable view, thanks to its 20mm of
eye-relief, large eyelens, and a pupil free of the kidney-beaning and
blackouts common in many wide field eyepieces.

The new 24mm
uses a different optical design and delivers the same outstanding
performance over it's 68°
wide apparent field. It is totally free of blackouts and other annoying
exit pupil behaviors, delivers long eye relief (17mm), virtually zero
distortion, and is sharp to the edge even in fast
telescopes. Its flat focal plane is particularly suited to very fast
newtonians that use coma correctors. The 29mm field stop
makes the 24mm Hyperion the widest 24mm eyepiece we know of. The
24mm Hyperion is also the smallest and lightest of the Hyperions.

High grade water-white glasses are
used throughout, to deliver a crystal clear view with low scatter and
excellent color fidelity, free of the yellow or bluish coloration
imparted by many other eyepieces. Use of high-index glasses delivers
low distortion and astigmatism, even on scopes as fast as f/4.

Baader Planetarium has gone to great
lengths to give the Hyperions the most advanced multicoatings ever used
on amateur telescope eyepieces (please note: these are not
the same coatings other manufacturers use on their similar clones of
these eyepieces..). The Hyperion Phantom Group™ multi-coatings and
coating equipment are proprietary to Baader and have been designed by
German coating engineers specifically for the Baader Hyperions, and
optimized for each of the glasses used. These coatings are applied
with the latest thin-film German coating equipment, training, and
process controls. The result are coatings that truly rival the
best in the world - including the famous Zeiss Abbe Orthoscopic!
The difference is clearly visible - users report that the Hyperions
clearly show fainter stars and darker sky than the competitive clones.

The proprietary Hyperion housings have
been engineered by Baader to incorporate careful opto-mechanical design and
execution of internal baffling to eliminate stray light and ghost
reflections. Uncapping the eyelens reveals a pitch black
interior, with no distracting and contrast-robbing glints of light from
unbaffled lens or metal surfaces. We call these our 'black hole'
eyepieces.

Works in both 1.25" and 2" focusers.
The 1.25" barrel is threaded for filters and kept short (0.94") to work
well in binoviewers and spotting scopes. Baader's new housing
incorporates a full-length 2" barrel (0.94" long) and provides a specially designed
tapered locking recess.
In addition, the
Hyperion field stop locations have been re-designed and optimized to
give the shortest
focus position
possible (important for binoviewer use).

Soft folding rubber
eyecups work for both normal and eyeglass users. Each Hyperion comes with protective lens caps and
leatherette storage pouch.

All Hyperions Accept popular Astigmatism
Correcting Lenses (not available from Alpine Astronomical).
The Hyperion eyelens housing is compatible with the
full range of correcting lenses from
¼ to 3½ Diopters.
Observers with any astigmatism will really appreciate this feature, no
longer needing to wear eyeglasses to see stars as true pinpoints.
The long 20mm eye relief of the Hyperions works particularly well with
these corrector lenses, without forcing the observer to press their eye
close to the lens in order to see the entire wide field.

Removable Negative Lens Element
permits variable focal lengths using Baader's Finetuning
Rings (see section below). NOTE: The 24mm
Hyperion is a different optical design and does not permit the use of
Finetuning Rings to decrease focal length.

Great for Binoviewing! We've
tried most of the wide field eyepieces on the market that are suitable
for binoviewing, and the Hyperions are at the top with the very best.
When compared to some wide field eyepieces developed especially for
binoviewing, we found the Hyperions were superior in every aspect:
more comfortable view with better eye relief, smaller housing diameter
at the eyelens gives more nose-room, better coatings (=better contrast),
wider field, and half the cost.. Our favorite wide field bino
eyepieces are the 8/13/17/21/24mm Hyperion. The new 24mm
Hyperion works superbly in binoviewers, and delivers the widest true
field of any 24mm wide field eyepiece. Some users with narrow
interocular separation (like us) may find it is necessary to remove the
thin rubber M54 protective ring, in order to increase the 'nose
clearance'.

Baader Hyperions incorporate some
unique and innovative aspects, which are designed to make them the ideal
projection eyepiece;

The optical design of the Hyperions
enables them to work as an extremely sharp wide-field projection
eyepiece for even large chip CCD and DSLRs.

The eyelens barrel has been provided
with two different external threads, M43 and M54 (these are covered by
the removable rubber eyecups). A complete system of adapter rings
enables cameras to be directly (and rigidly) close-coupled for afocal
projection, or variably extended for classical eyepiece projection
imaging with our T-Adapter and Extension Tubes. A series of 16 threaded rings provides compatibility with
just about every digital (CCD/DSLR) and videocamera made, even large and
heavy 3-chip videocameras. For a complete listing of these
adapters, please see HYPERION Digital T-Rings and Adapters.

"Bob, I can pass on some very brief
comments regarding the Hyperions. I tested the 3.5 and the 21 on
my 90m f/9 Vixen fluorite apo. The 3.5 on lunar viewing absolutely
smokes my TV 8mm Plossl/TV 2X barlow combination in resolution,
brightness, and obviously field of view. Eye position is simple,
very enjoyable eyepiece. I am surprised, and very pleased.
The 21 on deep sky cruising is good. Got the best view if
M31/32/110 the other night of any eyepiece I've tried. The FOV was
flat with stars to the edge, no gulls."Reid Williams

"I have had only a few clear
moments with them. So far I'm blown away. Once word gets out
your not going to keep them in stock. Thanks for the great
eyepieces. I don't understand why they don't sell for more." Jim
Turner

Bob, I
thought I would drop you a note with my comments on the Hyperions that I
had recently purchased from you. Last nite was the first time I had the
opportunity to use them and I was very impressed. Very clear, sharp and
pinpoint. Using the 17mm, for the first time I really saw the fifth
star in the trapezium in M42! It was very clear and prevalent. Just
for the fun of it, I put in the old eyepiece that I had been using (an
Epic ED 18mm) and I couldn't even see it. I like the Epic's but they
don't compare to the Hyperion's. The nice wide view is very pleasing,
very sharp. ( I don't think I'll bother taking the Epic's out next
time.) Phil
Chartier

I think the Hype's are fantastic
ep's at any price! I use them in both my 14" SCT & 6" F6.5 refractor,
and they are clear & sharp to the extreme edge in both! The coatings
must be something very special as I get almost ZERO light scatter when
looking at the planets. Also very contrasty, and comfortable to use.
They are keepers for sure. What you get for the price is incredible! Bob Lindsey

My local observing buddy Doug and I had a wonderful night of
observing in North Florida this past night. One of our goals was to test
the 17mm Baader Hyperion against the 17mm Stratus in my 8" f/5.6
Starmaster V8 on a Tom O tracking platform. This was mostly a planetary
night but M44 (Beehive Cluster) was directly overhead and a good target
to test both ep's for sharpness, contrast, and color. What we found was
that the Hyperion's focal plane was about 1/4 turn closer to the primary
than the Stratus. We found that the contrast was slightly better in the
Hyperion than the Stratus and the starpoints in M44 were brighter likely
due to the contrast differences. Bob Schilling (Bob
likes the Hyperions so much he has replaced his 2.5X more expensive
widefield eyepieces with Hyperions)

Saturday night was the first time I got to use the Hyperion 21mm
in the 12.5" Astrosystems Telekit. It was sharp all the way out in my F
4.85. I did not see any gulls or off-axis defects to speak of. M13 was
breathtaking, and the Veil was ghostly looking and detailed in our dark
Kentucky sky. Very impressive, and all for less than one hundred fifty
dollars. Perfect views like this can only be loved! You have some
winners there with Baader. Greg Myrick

For more information on these
novel eyepieces and their many uses, please click on the following
links:

With the addition of Baader's new Finetuning
Rings, each Hyperion eyepiece can now function as four eyepieces!
Available in 14mm and 28mm lengths. The finetuning rings are 2" OD
and threaded M48 (filter thread) on each end, so they can be installed
in-between the Hyperion's removable front negative element and main
body. The added spacing decreases the focal lengths
(increases magnification), according to the table below.
Finetuning rings are made to match the Hyperion finish, and are fully
internally sharp v-threaded and blackened to eliminate stray light
reflections from the internal surfaces.

Also, another novel way to change
eyepiece focal length is to use a Baader 2" Filter in-between the
Hyperion negative element and main body, just like a small finetuning
ring. The 8.5mm thickness of the filter cell will have a similar
(milder) effect in reducing the Hyperion's focal length. This also
allows use of 2" filters with Hyperions, something that is not possible
with any other 1¼" Eyepiece.

Please Note: Removal
and installation of the front negative element should be done in a clean
environment to prevent dust or other contamination from depositing on
the internal elements (which are very difficult to clean).
Also, please note that the 24mm Hyperion is not able to make use of the
Finetuning Rings, due to its different optical design.

Baader Planetarium has evolved the
wide-field astronomical eyepiece to a new level. Introducing the
world’s first production Astronomical Eyepieces to use aspheric surfaces, the 31mm
and 36mm Baader Hyperion-Aspheric 72º Modular Eyepieces. This
new technology has allowed Baader to eliminate eyepiece aberrations
without the usual penalty of extra lens elements, excessive size and
weight, or high cost.

The Hyperion-Aspheric’s freedom
from blackouts, kidney beaning, and lack of distortion combines with
their long eye relief to produce a view that is uncommonly comfortable
and natural for all users (including eye-glass wearers and users of
popular astigmatism correcting lenses). Eye relief is 18mm for
the 31mm, and 20mm for the 36mm Aspheric.

The ultra-wide 72° field is
extremely flat and distortionless (virtually free of angular
magnification distortion).

Baader’s renowned Phantom Group
Multi-Coatings, blackened lens edges, and thorough internal baffling
combine with their efficient optical design (6 elements in 3 groups)
to deliver an extremely bright and high contrast view that is free of
scatter. These special coatings are easy to identify by their
almost colorless appearance, testament to their lack of selective
absorption common in almost all other manufacturer's multi-coatings.

Sealed airtight and watertight
with rubber O-rings.

Hyperion Modularity

Superb for projection imaging.
The Hyperion-Aspherics are threaded to accept the full line of
Hyperion Digital T-Rings, for a robust direct attachment of almost
any camera. The clever use of 2"x24tpi SCT threads for
attaching the 2" barrel permits the Hyperion-Aspherics to directly
thread onto the rear cell of popular SCTs. This results in the
highest rigidity possible for imaging.

Dual Barrel Configuration – two
barrel sizes are provided with each Hyperion Aspheric. The standard
2” barrel provides the full 72º field size, and a special funnel
shaped wide-field
1¼” barrel provides the maximum true field ever in a 1¼” format,
with a field stop size of 1.265”(32mm)! - perfect for extracting
every bit of field possible in 1¼” telescopes or binoviewers.
Apparent field size is 55º for the 31mm and 50º for the 36mm, with
1¼” barrels.

Accepts popular astigmatism
correcting lenses.

NEW
Click on the link for a complete table of Hyperion
Aspheric Eyepiece Specifications

The Baader Hyperion 8-24mm
Clickstop Zoom continues the Hyperion tradition of delivering
top-of-class performance and quality, at very reasonable prices.
Zoom eyepieces have earned a lackluster reputation over the years, due
to their compromises in optical design and execution. We
think the Hyperion zoom will surprise many jaded zoom users with its
combination of performance, quality, and novel features.

Some highlights of the Hyperion
Clickstop Zoom;

Consisting of 7 elements,
the Hyperion optical design delivers outstanding sharpness and color
correction over its wide flat field,
even with fast telescopes. Users are reporting that the Clickstop
Zoom matches the performance of their best fixed focal length eyepieces!

Wide field. The field of view is
68degrees at the 8mm setting, and 50 degrees at 24mm.

Excellent viewing comfort. The
eye relief of 12-15mm, large eyelens, and freedom from kidney beaning
and blackouts result in a high level of comfort and ease-of-viewing, at
all focal lengths.

As with the fixed focal length
Hyperions Baader Planetarium has gone to great
lengths to give the Hyperion Zoom the most advanced multicoatings ever
used on amateur telescope eyepieces.
The Hyperion Phantom Group™ multi-coatings truly
rival the best in the world - including the famous Zeiss Abbe
Orthoscopic! The difference in contrast and transmission is clearly visible
at the eyepiece.

Includes both 1.25" and 2"
Barrels.The 2" barrel attaches through an included
adapter ring that has standard 2"x24tpi SCT threads. The 2"
barrel also incorporates a reverse taper groove for better seating and
retention.

Superb fit and finish. Zoom
motion is smooth and precise. Barrels are accurately machined,
with excellent surface quality, and hard anodizing. The 1¼"
Barrel is threaded for standard 1¼"
filters, and the 2" Barrel for standard 2" Filter.

Adjustable rubber
eyecup works for both normal and eyeglass users. Rotating eyecup incorporates a variable-height helical
adjustment with clickstop positions for setting the optimal spacing.

Designed to integrate perfectly with
many popular spotting scopes from Celestron/Synta (M35) and Zeiss (M45).
Reaches focus on these spotting scopes even for very shortsighted
observers.

Complete System of
Accessories for Digital Imaging as a high quality variable magnification
projection optic:

Eyelens-group made watertight to seal eyepiece from rain during
terrestrial operation

Large eyerest rubber cover redone to make the eyerest scratchproof for
eyeglasses

Eyerest hight adjustment made greaseless with step-curved click rest -
as found on high quality binoculars

Now Optimized for Binoviewer use. The adjustable
height eyerest assembly is now fully detachable for creating "nose
space" when using two Zooms in a binoviewer. A pair of Zooms now
provides the ultimate eyepiece set for binoviewing.

M43 threading accepts
popular astigmatism correctors

Small Hyperion rubber eyecup added to fit M43 thread

Camera adapter thread changed from SP 54 to M43(SONY) for a variety of
afocal camera adaptations

Accepts photo-adapter HTA43T2
(M42x0.75) for easy and rigid adaptation of various DSLR-T-Mount rings

Like the fixed focal length Hyperions, the Hyperion MKIII Zoom eyelens barrel has been provided
with an M43 attachment thread (covered by
the removable eyerest assembly). To adapt the zoom to a Camera's
T-ring for classical eyepiece projection, all that is needed is our HTA43T2 Adaper ring.

Coming Soon: A complete system of M54 adapter rings
enables cameras to be directly (and rigidly) close-coupled to your
camera's lens filter threads for Afocal
Eyepiece Projection. A series of 16 threaded rings provides compatibility with
just about every digital (CCD/DSLR) and videocamera made. For a complete listing of these
adapters, please see HYPERION Digital T-Rings and Adapters.Please Note: The Mark III Zoom now utilizes an M43
thread at the eyelens end. In order to use teh Hyperion Digital
T-rings, a new M43 - M54 adapter ring is required. This ring is
currently in development and will be ready later in 2010.

For more information on this
outstanding Zoom and its many uses, please click on the following link:

The Hyperion Barlow works superbly
with all DSLR and CCD cameras for projection imaging. The included
T-2 Adapter enables the Barlow to be attached and configured with
practically any camera, and is able to cover projection ratios of up to
5X through the use of extension tubes (such as our
Astro T2 System). *

* The projection/amplification ratio can be determined by measuring
from the lens assembly filter thread shoulder to the focal plane of the
camera or eyepiece. The focal length of the barlow is
approximately 60mm. For example, a magnification of 2X is achieved
when the barlow is positioned 60mm ahead of the focal plane. At
120mm the magnification is 3X, and so on (1X per 60mm of spacing). When
used with the included T-2 adapter and a DSLR (with T-ring, such as the
new Baader Protective DSLR T-rings), the projection ratio is approx
2.2X.

Carl Zeiss Abbe Eyepieces continue to
be regarded as the finest astronomical eyepieces ever made.
Around 1995, Carl Zeiss produced a very limited number of a newly
designed matching 1.25" 2X Abbe-Barlow*. This doublet barlow
incorporated a special high-quality ED glass, along with Zeiss' famous
multicoatings, optical accuracy, smoothness, and surface quality.
Discriminating planetary observers have found this to be the finest
barlow ever produced. Unfortunately, due to their scarcity
and unsurpassed performance, these barlows rarely surface on the
secondary market, commanding extremely high prices - up to $1200 apiece!

Baader Planetarium and
Alpine Astronomical are elated to now offer again the legendary Carl Zeiss Abbe-Barlow, in a new redesigned
housing. Carl Zeiss has produced a new run of these barlows for
2017,
specifically for Baader Planetarium. The lenses have been mounted in
the new housing, which incorporates Baader's own
Clicklock eyepiece clamp that attaches
to the barlow housing via T-threads. The
marriage of these two parts makes an even finer barlow than the 1995
original style. The non-marring Clicklock holder makes
interchanging eyepieces a snap, firmly clamping the eyepiece with a
gentle twist of the top ring. The ID of the lens cell is fully
sharp v-threaded to kill stray light. The top of the Clicklock
holder is height-adjustable, and removable to expose an external
T-thread. This enables use of the barlow as a superb projection
barlow for imaging, or with an eyepiece for projection at higher
magnifications (simply add any of our T-2 Extension tubes ). The
front barlow housing may also be attached to any T-threaded camera.
When attached to a DSLR, the resultant magnification is approximately 2.3X.

New for 2017, Carl Zeiss has updated
the coatings to deliver the highest transmission and lowest scatter of
any coating ever produced for amateur optics. The coatings
have been optmized for visual use, with a phenomenally low 0.2% loss
over the spectral region where the eye is most sensitive. These
new coatings further help to make the Zeiss barlow literally 'disappear'
in use.

Users of all 1¼"
eyepieces will find the Baader Zeiss Abbe-Barlow to be the finest barlow
they've ever used, increasing the magnification without introducing any
detectable loss in sharpness or contrast. A side benefit is the
increased eye-relief that comes from using longer focal length
eyepieces, enabling a more comfortable and relaxed view. This
compact barlow remains parfocal at 2X, minimizing the disruption to focusing
when adding the barlow into the optical chain.

Baader has found that the Zeiss
Abbe-Barlow works extremely well at magnifications up to 3X.
Barlow users are no longer constrained to the typical 2X single
magnification provided by standard barlows. The two-part housing
enables users to vary the magnification of the Abbe-Barlow simply by
using
T-2 Extension Tubes in-between the
barlow housing and the Clicklock clamp.

Owners of the prior Zeiss Abbe-I eyepieces now
have an opportunity to finally complete their set, as Zeiss had
intended. With the 2X Abbe Barlow, their available set of focal
lengths doubles and fills-in the gaps between focal lengths (2,3,4,5,6,8,10,12.5,16,17,25,34).

* Original-Style Zeiss Abbe 2X Barlow (1990s)

Oh, and the Baader Zeiss barlow is astonishing! I've used what I
consider to be high quality barlows in the past but none were as
invisible in the optical chain as the Baader/Zeiss. Don
Bledsoe

The Baader Planetarium VIP
Modular Barlow is a complete high quality 2X photo-visual barlow system.
The VIP (VIsual and
Photographic) barlow is ingeniously designed for functionality and
flexibility. It consists of several modular component parts,
which enable you to configure the barlow for multiple visual and imaging
uses.

Designed to accept 1¼”
eyepieces and fit 1¼”
focusers, it also incorporates a 2" section for use in 2" focusers.
The eyepiece holder uses dual nickel plated clamp screws for maximum
convenience and security, and incorporates a captive spring bronze lock
ring to prevent any possibility of damage to your eyepieces. As
with all Baader Planetarium products, the quality of machining
and detail of design is unsurpassed. The internal surfaces are all
fully sharp V-threaded and blackened to eliminate stray light
reflections. Surfaces are finely machined and satin anodized for
function and appearance, and the pieces all fit closely and precisely.

The heart of the VIP modular
barlow is its precision air-spaced negative lens assembly. The large
24mm clear diameter of the optics minimizes vignetting, and its
apochromatic field-flattening design makes it well suited for high power
planetary observing as well as for CCD cameras. Both lens elements are
polished to a very high standard, and fully multi-coated, using the
finest 7 layer multi-coatings available today (reflections per
surface are less than 0.2% !).
The result is a sharp, high-contrast image that is virtually unaffected
by its passage through the barlow.

For more information on this
unique barlow and its potential uses, please click on the More Info link below.

The unique high-quality glass
transmission grating provides exceptionally bright spectra, up to 82%
first order transmission!, 30% brighter than other available eyepiece
spectrographs.

Through the Baader Spectroscope, stars
will produce a vivid spectrum with the colors spread out along its
length like a rainbow. Emission lines and absorption lines can be
readily observed in many stars. These lines can be used to
identify specific elements in the star's atmosphere, or ascertain a
star's temperature. Visibility of features depends on the type and
brightness of the star, telescope aperture, magnification, and
atmospheric conditions.

PhotoVisual 1¼"
Eyepiece Holder. Accepts the Transmission Grating, and 1¼"
eyepiece. Eyepieces (magnification) can therefore be changed at
will without disturbing the orientation of the grating. Also incorporates output T-threads for connection to any
CCD or film camera.

Cylindrical
Lens assembly w/Eye Shade, slips over eyepiece to further spread out the
spectrum for better visibility of some objects. Fits any eyepiece with an
approximate 33mm OD
barrel (works with many common 1¼" eyepieces, plossls, orthos, etc, including Baader Genuine Orthoscopics).

What is a Blazed Grating?
The Baader Spectroscope uses a special glass 207 Lines/mm diffraction grating for
dispersing the incoming light. Simple gratings produce several
spectra (first and higher orders). The laser holographic blazing
process shapes the grooves of the grating to concentrate the light into
the 1st order spectra. The result is a much brighter spectra.
Even when compared to other blazed grating spectroscopes available to
the amateur, the Baader
grating is significantly brighter, permitting improved visibility
and a greater selection of suitable objects.

Each spectroscope comes in a padded
storage box, with detailed instructions and a list of suitable objects
and their spectral types.

NEW Please click on the
following links for a pdf of the detailed instructions:

Our winged rubber eyecups are the
ideal companion for most 1¼" Eyepieces.
The winged extension completely blocks out extraneous light from the
periphery more completely and more comfortably than the typical rigid or
foldable 360degree eyecups supplied with even high-end eyepieces. It
is much easier to concentrate on the image and to see faint objects, while
imparting a more 'intimate' view, isolated from distracting side-light.
We find these to be outstanding for binoviewing. The winged extension folds down for more compact storage.

# EYECP-2
Winged Rubber Eyecup 2, fits eyepieces with barrel sizes of
approximate diameter 33.5 - 34mm. This is the most common
size and fits most standard Plossls, as well as the Baader Genuine
Orthos and the new Zeiss Abbe-II Eyepieces.

* This size is also ideal for
use with Nagler Type6 eyepieces, giving more usable eye relief, greater
comfort, and much
better cutoff of extraneous light than the stock eyecup, esp. for
binoviewer use. The stock lens cap still fits (with eyecup folded
down).

The true Abbe Orthoscopic has long
been recognized for its ability to deliver the highest resolution,
contrast and light throughput of any modern eyepiece design.
On-axis images are essentially perfect and the orthoscopic design
ensures freedom from distortion. Contrast and throughput are maximized
by it's minimum of lens elements and only 4 air-to-glass surfaces.

The pinnacle of planetary eyepieces,
the Zeiss Abbe Orthoscopic, are still regarded as the finest eyepieces
ever produced, and are the standard against which all other premium
eyepieces are compared to. Unfortunately, these eyepieces are no
longer produced, and command prices of up to $800 apiece! on the
secondary market. Through their many years of eyepiece design and
production, combined with their close associations with Zeiss, Baader
Planetarium has acquired a unique in-depth knowledge of eyepiece design
and fabrication. Baader set out to deliver an eyepiece that is
worthy of comparison to the Zeiss Abbe, while still remaining affordable
for the amateur. The result is the Baader Genuine
Orthoscopic.

Phantom Multi-Coatings.
Absolutely the finest Broadband Multilayer Coatings available have been
applied to all surfaces. Reflectivity of less than
0.2% at each air-to-glass surface results in maximum contrast, light
throughput, and freedom from ghost images.

Superb Lens Polish. Baader
Genuine Orthoscopics are polished to a high standard, for maximum
clarity and contrast. A surprising number of premium commercial
eyepieces suffer from roughness, excessive pits, or sleeks left in the
lens surfaces. These tiny defects can hamper short focal
length planetary eyepieces, where even the smallest imperfections
scatter light and reduce contrast.

High grade glasses for maximum
transmission and purest colors with no yellowing or selective
coloration.

Baader Genuine Orthoscopics are the
ideal choice for any critical observing that demands the highest
contrast, resolution and light throughput. Naturally, observation
of fine planetary detail benefits from the qualities of the Genuine
Orthoscopic. Lunar and Solar H-Alpha and White-Light observers
will find the low scatter indispensable in preventing the intense
brightness from from washing out subtle surface or limb details.
Deep Sky observers will appreciate the contrast and high light
throughput for observing faint nebula, double stars, galaxies, and
stars at the limit of their equipment and skies.

In his detailed comparison
between Zeiss "Abbe", Pentax SMC-Orthos, and Baader Genuine
Orthoscopics, noted German amateur Dr. Michael Lalk
(Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University) had the following to say; "My result:
Baader -Planetarium has succeeded with the Genuine Orthos. They
represent a worthy execution of the orthoscopic eyepiece, in my opinion,
and make it possible for those who do not possess the Zeiss Abbes to own
an equal alternative at a fraction of the price. No exotic glasses
are used here, surely, as Zeiss. But, my observations show that it
is actually not possible to differentiate, in use, between a Zeiss
"Abbe", a Pentax SMC-Ortho, or a Baader Genuine Ortho".

Please Note: The Carl
Zeiss Abbe-II Orthoscopic Eyepieces are completely sold out and no
further production runs are possible. We have
left the following information on our site as a reference for those
interested in the history of these special eyepieces.

The Carl Zeiss Abbe continue to be
regarded as the finest eyepieces ever produced for planetary
observation. For the past 10 years, no other modern eyepiece has
been able to match the performance of the Zeiss Abbe eyepiece - until
now.

Baader Planetarium has spent years
working with Carl Zeiss to design and produce an eyepiece at the limits
of modern optical design and fabrication technologies. The result
is the Abbe-II.

Every part of the Abbe-II has been
fabricated and assembled by Zeiss in their Jena optical facility.
In no other way could the demanding specifications and tolerances be
achieved, for each and every eyepiece.

Limited One-Time Production.
These will be the only run of Abbe-II eyepieces ever produced.
This was a one-time arrangement with Zeiss, and there are currently no plans for more to ever be produced by Zeiss. These are
destined to be an even greater collector's item than the prior
generation.

Features:

The Abbe-II performance has been
improved beyond the original Zeiss Abbe through a new lens design and
improved glasses. The new glasses are of the highest
purity and are the most transparent and colorless that can be
produced.

The optical design consists of 4
elements in 2 groups.

Well corrected on-axis to f/4.

All air-to-glass surfaces are
coated with the ultimate Zeiss high-efficiency multicoatings.

43° apparent field of view, flat
and free of distortion (orthoscopic).

Micrometric Field Marks.
The unique precision-etched field stops incorporate 4 opposing
see-through triangles located outside the field of view edge. A
star can be used to transit the triangles, for accurately centering
and field size drift measurements. For some additional comments
and uses of the field marks, please click on Micrometric
Field Marks.